Shoe filler



A. THOMA SHOE FILLER ug. l, 1933,

Filed Aug. 6, 1927 Patented Aug. 1, 1933 Unire trani SHE FILLER.

`Applieation August 6, i927. Serial No. 2ll,157

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved shoe bottom filler possessing properties designed to lessen the tendency of the filler to shift or bunch up in 4the shoe bottom in use under the heat and pressure of the foot, and hence designed lto become practically non-shiftable inthe shoe bottom. Furthermore when usedfin piece form the ller is so compounded and ymade that it is entirely practicable to insert it intothe shoe with- 0 out extraneous or independent fastening and at the time of sole laying. This is a radical departure in the art of shoe making in many respects and especially in the last-mentioned feature, because heretofore it vhas always been considered necessary to have as a distinct and separate stage of the making of the shoe the stage of filling thev shoe.v This filling operation has always been done by a separate man at a separate stand or place vin the shoe factory, usually necessitatingr a more or less elaborate machine, filling racks, considerablespacc for the accumulation and movement along to the next operation of the shoes tobe filled and the lled slices, all entailing extra handling, expense, labor, delay and floor space. My new iiller is part of my new method, which is more fully set forth and is duly claimed in my copending application Serial No. 210,558, led August 4, 1927, and application Serial No. 242,085, led December 23, u 1927,

l provide in durable, commercial and handleable piece form, which maybe readily placed intact in the bottom cavity by hand or spatula as a unit to occupy ultimately the whole cavity space, a filler material which would not otherwise be handleable and also which does not require to be melted as heretofore, but under normal temperatures and without special heat treatment is plastic or 'lowable under pressure, cohesive and capable of spreading in a shoe bottom but which after subjection to shoe leveling pressuresubstantially loses its uidity and becomes inherently less liable to shift@ Also I preferably so construct the filler piece that it is sufliciently responsive to water, preferably hot water, at the time of use or application to the shoe bottom, so that all that is required is for the sole layer to piece Quickly from the pan, or wetting basin or apparatus, and lay it in place between the inner sole and the outer sole without other attention, (as further explained later). The laying or" the sole and then leveling proceeds exactly 'the same as before. and operation of filling and all the attendant CII The separate stage` subjected to the leveling pressure the tree binder automatically becomes less, or in other words the pressedout filling deposit in the shoe bottom becomes dryer and rmer than it was originally. Preferably, this result is secured by providing an absorbent element containingan absorbed element which is held in check until released by said pressure whereupon the absorbent element at once becomes operative and begins to absorb or take up the binder and render it less capable of ever thereafter becoming fluid. In this preferred embodiment of my invention, the filler weighs less for a given plasticity or laying capacity, as the relatively heavy binder is held free, i. e., a considerable portion of it is not absorbed by the body material in the original mixing as heretofore was the case, but said binder is rst available in its application to the shoe bottom, for spreading and sticking purposes therein and then later it may or may not be absorbed and partially disappear according to the kind of binder and the kind of body material. This matter of weight is important from the standpoint both` of the filler manufacturer and of the shoe manufacturer, and in the use of the shoe it contributes to durability, Comfort and the elimination of shifting and bunching. In the further development of my invention I provide a latent spreading element which is rendered temporarily active by the same pressure of the leveling operation so that the iiller piece or material is more effectively spread to the connes of the shoe-bottom cavity. This spreading element is rendered active by the setting free of a fugitive, volatile or evaporable constituent and as soon as the'complete spreading has been effected as stated, `this element,- being fugitive or volatile, begins to volatilize or disappear, ultimately leaving the filler layer in the nal firm, non-shifting condition rst mentioned as a primary object of my invention. I have designated this transient element as fugitive to mean that it leaves its original surroundings by disappearing or otherwise. Va-` rious other'important advantages follow from certain other novel features which cooperate with the aforesaid to bring about the main results. First I might mention the provisionV of a supporting layer or enclosing means on one shall under no circumstances be able to slip onv or both sides which is preferably waterproof and yet capable of holding a water film on and in its outer surface. -The result is that when the ller piece is taken from the immersing basin and quickly placed in the shoe bottom this water film sticks the piece in place, so to speak, by rendering the contacting surfaces friction-holding and also by the suction action due to the presence of the water between two perfectly flat, smooth surfaces. For practical purposes this temporary friction-positioning is sufficient, as squeezing out or spreading of the filler into the shoe cavity beyond the boundary of the supporting layer effectually sticks or unites the layer to the inner sole and the outer sole under the leveling pressure, but for still greater eiciency I prefer to provide the supporting layer or layers themselves with an ad-l hesive, preferably latent and brought into action by the immersing step, and finally I preferably make the supporting layer capable of itself spreading or distending with the spreading of the ller layer.

In carrying out my invention it will be understood that the various features are not necessarily inclusive nor exclusive, but preferably one of the new features is that the body material is made of discreet particles of different shapes so that when subjected to the leveling `pressure they naturally nest into each other or become compacted permanently into a more stable and rmer relation to each other than otherwise would be the case and are so held by the binder (which, as another new feature, is more attenuated or less in bulk). Explaining further this last new feature, it has been heretofore necessary to provide in the ller a considerable proportion of binder relatively to body material in order to permit sufficient spreading movement to ll out the space around the piece, but my present invention as already described and presently further set forth changes thisl substantially. I prefer to include the layer` of nller material between two outside coverings or layers of covering material. My purpose is preferably to approach as nearly as possible in the iinished shoe bottom to having the filled layer all'squeezed out from between the enveloping covers which would then come directly against each other so that the ejected filler material would be spread out all around the periphery of the original filling piece to entirely ll the bottom cavity between the edges of the filling piece or covers andthe boundary'of the cavity. While this is probably mechanically impossible (because of the exigencies of the shoe factory practice) it is my object torprovide a ller piece as near to this ideal as possible. The outside cover layers of the compound ller piece would therefore together have the rthickness required for filling the middlev area of the shoe bottom, the rest of said area being occupied by the squeezed out or spread, and hardened, filler material, and in order thatthese cover layers each other if brought into this condition I provide on the inner'face of one or both cover pieces-a gritty surface permanently fixed thereto, such for instance as would be provided by permanently fastening to the said surface a multitude of small particles of the hard portion of cork bark, or hard-wood sawdust, although in a less e'icent degree any comminuted material may be used or the covers made rough, at

least on their inner surfaces so that the two rough inner surfaces of the two cover layers will interlock with each other when brought hard against each other. In my copending case Serial No. 212,018 led August 10, 1927. I disclose a ller piece in the form of a strip for lling from the margin inward toward the center, when of a spreadable nature, instead of from the center toward the margin, as here, and it will be understood that certain of the claims herein are generic to both types of -filler pieces. While various means of eliminating more or less of the fluidity of the binder in response to the shoe leveling pressure on the ller piece may be employed, I prefer to secure this result by charging the porous body material at the time of making the filler with a fluid, as for instance filling the pores of the body material with water, which A.water acts as a barrier to prevent the absorption of the binder, for instance the wax tailings in case this kind of a binder is employed, and 'yet this water under the pressure of the subsequent levelingr operation on the shoe bottom is very readily squeezed out thereby leaving the pores of the filler body material open to invite the entrance of the surrounding binder, the tailings for instance, and this entrance of binder results in automatically removing from the nller material that much free binder. acts to stiifen the filler layer by eliminating a portion of its fluidity. Preferably in making the iiller I introduce a little latent paste in the form of dry starch or other vpaste forming powder which operates to take up some additional moisture and stop or close up the water-laden pores of the cork or other body material which as a stop and as a latent paste is released at once by the pressure to become active paste, acting first as a lubricant or slippery medium and then hardening to help stiffen the filler layer. I :Find it also advantageous to employ as a part or all of the water-providing medium a soapy solution like soluble oil, which by reason of the emulsion condition may be said to have penetrated and to envelop the solid particles with an enclosing film, and which, moreover, becomes more active in response to the immersion in water just prior to the placing of the filling piece in tr e shoebottom cavity. Under the subsequent leveling pressure the protecting relation of t v cover layer or the like or whatever protector' the piece has had to hold the interior against change and especially to prevent the escape of the included liquid is destroyedy either by disrupting and destroying said skin or by simply flowing the interior therefrom by pressure and all these elements are forced into cooperation under new alignments (more easily when conditioned by the water treatment), which cooperation produces or enhances the slippery spreading function on the one part and the absorption of the free binder or elimination of the fluidity on the other part. In its most complete embodiment, the nal or most perfect condition is brought about by the pressure release of the evaporable or volatile elements, the release of chemical activities, and the rel-eo e oi latent absorbent capacities. This Final suit has been theretofore prevented and these activities held inoperative from the time of the manufacture of the filler to the time of its use in the shoe, which interval may be weeks or months, by the simple expedient of the filler as a small thin piece or segregated layer n table or mineral compounds, gelatin, glue, or

between impervious protector surfaces which prevent evaporation, shifting of the constituents into each other,.rotting or internal deterioration, and hold everything unchanged during the handling, transportation and storage but in readiness for instant use at any time. To this three-fold end the interior or sealed-in portion or layer of the filler piece or material, whether as a piece or not, preferably comprises in whole or in part a liquid such as an emulsion of vegeanything of a colloidal nature that can be made to have `proper fluidity to breakdown under pressure, and a cooperating chemical compound such as starch, plaster of Paris, pulverized glue, pulverized shellac, casein combined with limo, dextrine (further reference being made to my applicationNo. 183,302, :tiled April 13, 1927) and finally, body material, preferably absorbent, such as choppedor ground fibers of wood, including cork, vegetable, mineral, wool, each of which in well known forms is absorbent. At the time of spreading the filler, the ller body charged with aqueous or other fugitive iiuid, parts with the same which becomes dispersed and evaporates or is chemically cared for leaving the spread filler layer finally toughened, hardened and c0- agulated into a iixed and. strongly adherent layer in the bottom cavity. Also, the outside cover, skin,l or protector, when used, is preferably so chosen asto aid one or all three of the aforesaid means of producing the nal or most perfect condition of stability in the laid iiller. ref,- erably for the latter reason I prefer to employ a paper or otherouter Vlayer which is absorbent. Then the subsequent evaporation of the included evaporable constituents taken with the elimination oi free bindery produces the final resultant firm, stable bottom. Bythe term included I mean that the Water is held inactive or inert, for

within aslong as undisturbed. In case the said instance in the absorbent body material until released' by pressure'later, or for instance in the intermediate spreadable layer between the supporting layers or outside cover layers, by the latter or by any other means or construction, and

the substantially impervious perimeter portion or edge of the said intermediate layer, the latter at its edge becoming glazed or semi-oxidized after a while and therefore closed to evaporationfrom intermediate layer contains rosin, as it sometimes does, its exposed edges then actually oxiand harden or encrust so as to seal them against the escape. outward of any of the ineluded Water.

' yetholds the evaporable or included liquid `and other changeable elements ever ready to become operative and eiective by` the spreading pressure ci the spatula or bottom leveling operation. When the filler is spread out thin it quickly parte with the aqueous brother evaporable liquid with which the absorbent body material was soaked, partly' by evaporation and partly by chemical union leaving the binder in lcondition* to stiien into a xed layer. In case there is no external skin of paper or the like but the binder covered cork is exposed and rendered dormant by any dulling medium, as for example powdered talc, as a sealing covering or outside surface coating as distinguished from being intermixed with the interior of the filler layer proper, the piece may be quickened or rendered active by being painted with parafline oil or other penetrating oil or by application of heat, or otherwise. The effect of a penetrating oil (and so with paraffin oil) especially when heated. is to hasten the speed of absorption and increase the amount of absorption, quicken the stickiness of the binder, and ultimately stifen or render rmer the iiller layer after the innuence of the heat, if any, has ceased. The effect of a heat application is to hasten or cause the release of the evaporable or volatileelements, the release of the-chemical activities or the release oi the latent absorbent capacities, severally or collectively according to the mixture or construction of the'piece, and in each instance finally results in making firmer or stiffer and less shiftable the laid iiller. The general result, as nrst pointed out herein, is to accomplish both of my main objects, viz., first, the piece becomes, prior to the time of use of the shoe, practically nonshiftable, because at rst inherently soit or workable enough for spreading, preferablycold as already emphasized, and then inherently stiffer after being laid, and, second, the stickiness is made by this quickening or conditioning treatment instantly suiciently active to make it practicable to secure the piece by its own stickiness without extraneous or independent fastening and preferably so at the time of the sole laying. In the case oi" the quickening or conditioning by the application of heat, the further o1' additional advantages already mentioned result. 'The aforesaid two ymain objects are accomplished, in both the examples mentioned, by the penetration and loosening effects of the penetrating oil in the one case andthe penetrating heat in the other case, said penetration serving to remove the barrier. The cork and binder are at once freed from their restrictions and given their condition of highest but temporary mobility or spreadability. This condition is temporary, for the reasons already explained, and is at once or soon succeeded by a stiier 6r stiiening condition within the spread or laid filler.

My present invention makes it possible to get the extreme thinness desired, because it carries in a latent form arconsiderable proportion of the subsequent liuidifying part while at the same time it ultimately results in a firmer and more stable bottom than has been possible by any spreadable form of filler heretofore.l In fact, the ultimate bottom may be made nearly as `stable as the old objectionable style of bottom which consisted simply of a piece of leather or cardboard orthe like died out to approximate the shape ci the cavity. It will be understood that it is not desirable to secure quite as hard and rm a bottom as this old style (whichis one reason it has never become more nearly universal) because a certain degree of softness or pliability and yielding is advisable for the comfortrof the wearer.

Briey stated, my invention comprisesa self- Y contained plastic, spreadable `filler piece whose interior is maintained unchangeable-and intact against spreading@deterioration o r interchange of components by means of a protective surface l or exterior covering which seals the interior sufciently to maintain the piece thus unchanged and intact and further comprises the selection or preparation of a constituent of solid particles for use in the compound which, under normal temperature and pressure does not substantially absorb the binder and which preferably is not normally directly coated by the latter, but which when subjected to pressure, such for example, as shoe leveling pressure, becomes absorbent with respect to the binder so that it absorbs the binder to such an extent that the compound becomes practically solid and immovable. Whenthe solid constituent is of a porous nature, as for example finely divided cork or leather, it is subjected, before being admixed with the binder, to a pretreatment which consists in rendering the particles temporarily impervious to the bin-der, and in so treating it I prefer to employ some substance which no1'- mally exerts little if any restraining or deadening action on the binder and which is preferably eliminatedor neutralized during or subsequent tothe application of the filler to the shoe. Such pretreatment ofthe solid constituents of the filler material may consist merely in filling the finely divided solid material with water prior to its addition to the sticky binder. Since the cork (by this specific termA I shall hereinafter refer to the solid constituent of the material as a matter of convenience and by way of example)V is porous, it absorbs a portion of the water and as the water and the sticky waxy binder are mutually repellent, the film of moisture covering each cork particle, together with the absorbed water, tends to prevent entry of the binder into the individual cork granules.

Thus while the particles of cork loaded with moisture are embedded `in and surrounded by the sticky binder, each particle is segregated from the othersand enveloped in its own film of` moisture. Likewise the surrounding binder holdsr in the water and prevents appreciable evaporation thereof. This condition in and as an article of manufacture meets commercial and shoe manufacturing requirements of careless handling, shipping and storing and is made practicable by being formed in a piece or unit for an individual shoe bottom and by providing said piece with filler material of the type described,

`which is sealed in against loss of the included moisture and is protected against other change in the filler material by external cover layers, skins, condensed outsides or similar imperious surfaces. Incidentally this relation prevents any substantial diminution of the normal resiliency or elasticity of the cork suchas would be occasioned lto some extent at least by its initial permeation by the sticky binding material. Also this enveloping film of moisture constitutes a lubricating coating so that when the mass of filler material is subsequently compressed, each individual granule tends to slip and slide in much the same way on the same principle as a moist orange seed held betweenV the finger tips.

The material thus produced (that is to say by thoroughly moistening thecork before commingling it with the binder) is much more fluent than the normal or usual filler compounds, flowing smoothly and easily under the spreading knife when manually applied and being readily reduced to a thin sheet-like layer of uniform thickness when used in the manufacture of my sheeted filler. When this new iiller material is subjected to heavy leveling pressure in the shoe bottom, it spreads in all directions and completely and effectively fills all of the recesses and cavities of the shoe bottom, producing a smooth, level surface for contact with the outer sole.

Although the material thus spreads while being leveled, the heavy pressure also compels the intermingling of the moisture or wetting liquid of whatever kind, the oily film if any, starch, plaster of Paris or other ultimate stiifening compound, tailings and cork, producing a sudden slipperiness at the very instant of spreading. And yet, for the reasons already explained this slipperiness is transient, its disposal being hastened or facilitated by the preferable employment of an absorbent outer layer as well as the released absorbency of the cork, or other body material, and the chemical reaction. In explanation of the latter, take for example the plaster of Paris mentioned; this compound combines with water so that rst it becomes fluid and for that moment facilitates the spreading of the filler and then quickly sets to stiffen the filler now pressed into its nal layer stuck fast and immovable as a component part of the shoe bottom. It is to be noted that the repulsion of the sticky binder by the water iilm and the initial freedom of the cork from penetration by the binder because of the pretreatment of the cork by the liquid before its admixture with other materials preserves to the cork granules all of their normal elasticity and thus, at the completion of and release from the leveling or manual spreading, the cork particles immediately tend to resume their normal size and as their pores are no longer filled with Water, the sticky binder, or at least its more fluid constituents is sucked in or soaked up appreciably by the solid particles. After the binder has soaked into the solid particles, there is not enough binder left to act as a lubricant for the particles even when subjected to the heat and pressure of wearing conditions so that the mass becomes firm and stable to the extent desired for greatest comfort. While I mention a soap solution or soapy water as one example of a suitable moistening agent, I do not thus limit my invention, it being obvious that such other fluids may well be employed as will impart the desired slippery character to the compound, and that some such fluids (sodium silicate for example) may, upon the expulsion of the water or other solvent, leave a gluey, horny or hard skeleton or spongy residual mass adapted to oppose shifting of the filler. Preferably the filler material is modified by comprising or at least containing in part a compound of colloidal nature such as the emulsion-like mixture already mentioned or gluey, gelatinous material or materials which are changeable by pressure. For instance, an emulsion of vegetable or mineral compounds, gelatine, glue, or Ianything of a colloidal nature than can be made to have proper fluidity to break down by evaporation and dissipation or dispersion under the hand spreading or under the subsequent pressure in my new bottom-filling process. An example of this is milk of magnesia which when pressed between absorbent surfaces quickly dries or, in other words, to the extent of its entering into the filler compound it acts, under the leveling pressure, to stiifen the general ller body. In all the above the ingredient carrier is either Wholly or partially separated from its Water.

of my invention in order to render more readily understood the broad nature of the invention and the scope or range of its embodiments.

In the drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section to large scale of a vfiller leaf or piece, illustrating desirable embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 2vis a similar sectional View showing other embodiments;

5 Fig. 3 is a similar sectionai view illustrating further embodiments; g

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view of another embodiment, of the invention; and

Fig. 5 .is a similar sectional view illustrating another embodiment.

Brieflyv stated the filler piece or leaf, when this form of embodiment is used, consists of an intermediate layer 15 and outer supporting layers or skins 11, 14. The intermediate-layer 15 consists of ground cork and wax tailings or any other form of body material and binder as will be more readily understood by reference to my copending application above noted and the patents therein cited.` The body material for in stance lmay consist of ground cork or other dry finely divided discreet ller material having aporous nature or absorbent capacity, fibrous or otherwise. Other forms of binderare mentioned in my previous patents and copending applications. The cork, using this as the medium of explanation, is moistened or causedtc absorb Water, `either plain water or with the addition of certain other materials characterized in general by being smooth and slippery and imparting to the Water a slippery feel, although usually such substances are employed in relatively small quantities as compared with the bulk of the I have thus found that a very weak soap solution or soapy water or oil emulsion gives satisfactory results. Other substances have been already pointed out hereinbefore.

I do not herein set forth the process of manufacture ofthe layer 15 as this, except as to the filling of the porous body material with the liquid barrier at the very start, is substantially the same as set forth in my previous patents. The filler material in sheet-like `form 15 is embraced on Veach side by the supporting layers or skins 11,

14 of paper, as herein shown, or other sheet-like skins or layers, preferably absorbent, and preferablyy this paper is impregnated or coated with suitable compound which may have a waterproof nature such as waxes, oils, asphaltums orof a water soluble nature, as tissue paper, glue, dextrine,etc. This coating of the paper is prefer- .ably on the inner face or so placed that it comes next theplasticnller layer 15 as illustrated at 16 and may then be of a thin and frangible characn ter (as set forth in my copending application Serial No. 183,302), or it may be in the form of a thin sheet of paper or paper-like material so that it breaks up or goes to pieces easily at once under the leveling pressure or is weakened or substantially eliminated by the water treatment of the finished piece or other pretempering thereof by the operator as he is about to fill the shoe, with the result that theabsorptive .results previously mentioned may then become more rapidly effective. The outer surfaces 0f the paper or skin or impervious protective surface, if sticky, are rendered nonadhesive and preferably slippery by being dusted with powdered talc, soapstone, graphite or the like as indicated at 1'7. If the paper or other fabric covering 11 is omitted it is preferable then also to provide a la 1'7 of said dusted material as shown in 4 directly on the plastic layer l5. Also the er treatment may be applied as already mentioned to the binder material as Well as to the body material of the plastic layer, The pores ci the body material as already explained are filled with the aqueous solution and the moisture thus absorbed acts as a reservoir of fluid for subsequent expulsion by pressure and meanwhile serves as a to prevent any absorption of free binder. The spreading out thin of the filler resultant release and exposure of the fluid releases and brings at once into action the natural evaporation and desired dissipation of the fluid element which results at once in the stiffening or fixation of the ller layer to its desired final condition in the shoe bottom.

While I have here mentioned paper as confiller material is more mobile than before so that when placed under pressure in the shoe bottom the action of the cork particles may be likened somewhat to that of a moist orange seed when compressed between'tl'ie'fingers, the surround-A ing moisture envelope which is squeezed out by the leveling pressure causing the particles to glide With respect to eachother and the binder, in ready response to the applied force, and the film of soapy lubricant under the sudden and severe leveling ,pressure is broken up and driven still more intimately among the binder molecules and cork particles. Still further latent slipperiness is preferably provided by mixing dry starch or any of the substances already mentioned into the wet filler body material before admixture with the binder. rIhis takes up a certain superficial portion of the water or other volatile fluid and forms an incipient paste in and around the cork granules, ready, later in use, to Vbe converted into slippery paste (when the leveling pressure adds or squeezes into'it more water, particularly if soapy water) and then, having served its function of facilitating the spreading movement, it serves the further desired result of setting and stiifening upon parting with its water content. And even if no Water or other included fluid is employed, the dormant, internal adhesive, such as starch, dextrine and other ingredients mentioned of that character, is capable of becoming active in the water treatment, preferably hot, thus by the expulsion or squeezing out of the intermediate plastic layer i5. Accordingly I provide the inner faces of the layers l1 and 14 with a gritty surface 19. ,In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown this, in order to illustrate it, as a layer Y by itself but it 'will be understood that in fact `150 the gritty or abrasive material iscarried or imbedded in the layer 16, or it is secured to the inner faces of the layers l1 and 14 in any other manner available.

Instead of simple ground corkV in which the granules are very much alike, I preferably use body material comprising particles of different shapes and fibrous and porous materials (see at right end of Fig. 1) so that when squeezed out or spread under the 'leveling pressure and hence compacted they are slid onto and into each other and nest into a more compact and better position-retaining layer in the shoe cavity. For instance chopped particles and shredded (or elongated) particles tend under such heavy pressure to interlock and provide firmness against shifting and bunching. Also preferably I employ different particles of different absorptive characteristics, as dense cork and porous cork (coarse bark), comminuted pitchy wood and wood whose pores are open or spongy, and I vary the degrees of neness of the discreet particles or individual pieces of the comminuted body material to still further promote ultimate firmness of the laid shoe-bottom ller element.

The webs or skins 11 and 14, one or both, are preferably waterproof and yet capable of holding a water lm to facilitate the rapid filling of the shoe by the sole layer, as described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 210,558, filed August 4, 1927. Also the web or webs or skins, or spots and areas of the same, are preferably coated or impregnated with latent adhesive 18, at least on their outer sides, so that when the sole layer immerses .the filling pieces preparatory to placing them in the shoe bottom between the inner sole and the outer sole, the supporting layer of said piece will not only get wet but its latent adhesive will become active and will so remain long enough for the outer sole and rest of the shoe bottom to be fastened together and preferably for the leveling operation to be completed, so that thereby the died-out filling piece is held fast against shifting until encompassed and therefore held even more solidly and immovably by the extruded filler compound which has been spread or pressed into place by the leveling pressure so as to occupy the marginal space in saidV shoe bottom cavity all around the perimeter of the top and bottom skins or layers of said piece and between said perimeter of the latter and the cavity rim.

When either the bulk form of ller or the sheeted ller as above described is placed in the shoe bottom and subjected to manual spreading or to leveling pressure the cork particles are thereby greatly compressed and all or some of the contained water is apparently squeezed out. This water works its way out of the material and is lost by evaporation or otherwise so far as its subsequent activity is concerned but during its passage from the cork particles outwardly it forms an effective lubricant, either alone or when used in connection with the other elements mentioned for promoting free movement. This increases the mobility of the plastic layer. In some instances the squeezed-out, volatile substance unites with certain constituents of the filler material to make a more spreadable mass for the moment and then to dry out or otherwise change so as to harden, stiifen or render more rm the laid filler layer. While for McKay shoes the filler piece or leaf-like layer as an article of manufacture is more desirable, for the manufacture of welt shoes the present practice would make more desirable the employment of the filler in bulk or in the loaf form of my Patent No. 832,002. The filler made as above (but without the supporting layers) is adapted for use in the manufacture of welt shoes in the manner of the present day, and greatly facilitates such use, being much more readily spreadable even under the relatively light pressure of the ordinary roll and hand tool of Patent No. 808,227 or of the later Patent No. 1,558,699 and works still more easily in connection with the aid of the vapor of the last-mentioned patent.

While I have suggested certain specic materials for use in initially filling the pores of the absorbent body material with moisture and in the composition generally it will be understood that these are by way of example and that other materials having similar characteristics and mechanical functions may be employed. It will also be understood that I am not limited in the claims otherwise than as herein set forth, said claims being intended to be broad within the limits rst defined herein.

I claim:

1. A shoe filler material, comprising a sticky binder having mingled therewith inely divided solid substance normally impregnated with water containing just suflicient oil to make the particles slippery.

2. A shoe filler material, containing an absorbent and an oily absorbed ingredient, separable by pressure.

3. As an article of manufacture, a shoe-bottom filler piece comprising top and bottom cover skins and intermediate shiftable filler material, at least one of said cover skins having a rough inner face.

4. A shoe ller piece, comprising opposite cover skins and an intermediate movable layer, said skins having at least on their inner faces frictional means for mechanically holding them against shifting on each other when brought together.

5. As an article of manufacture, a shoe-bottom 120 filler piece comprising top and bottom cover skins having their inner faces formed to interlock frictionally whenever permitted to come in contact with eachother, and shiftable ller material between said top and bottom cover skins.

6. A shoe ller piece, comprising opposite cover skins and an intermediate movable layer, said skins having, at least on their inner faces, projections capable of interlocking and mechanically holding them against shifting on each other when brought together.

7. As an article of manufacture, a shoe-bottom filler piece comprising a layer of ller material, and a cover layer having on its inner surface next to said filler material a frangible coating.

8. As an articleof manufacture, a shoe-bottom ller piece comprising a layer of filler material, and a cover layer having on its inner surface a frangible coating non-absorbent to the filler material. Y

9. As an article of manufacture, a shoe-bottom filler piece comprising a layer of filler material, and a cover layer, having between them a layer of thin, paper-like material to separate the 145 outer layer from the filler material.

l0. As an article of manufacture, a shoe-bottorn filler piece comprising a layer of filler material, and a cover layer, having between them a layer which is soluble to the extent of being sub- 150 plement the sealing eiect of the binder on the absorbed liquid.

l2. A shoe iillei1 piece comprising a layer of spreadable ller material and an exterior supporting and protective layer, said exterior layer being adapted to receive and retain suicient water to cause the piece when Wet and applied to the bottom of a shoe to adhere temporarily and hold the piece in position.

ANDREW THOMA. 

